Panda hoping for new home for Christmas – bid now for mayor’s charities

This fluffy panda is looking for a new home this Christmas, with money raised in a social media auction set to be donated to the mayor of Merton’s charities.

The panda, complete with its own Christmas cracker and scarf, was donated to the mayor of Merton Councillor Brenda Fraser to raise money for her charities, the Avanti Club and Age UK Merton.

Merton Police organised an online auction on its Facebook page, with people invited to make bids in the comments section below a photograph of the bear. The highest bidder will be chosen by the police and the winner will be able to take the bear home in time for Christmas.

The mayor of Merton Councillor Fraser said: “I hope lots of money is raised for my chosen charities through the online auction of this panda. I would urge everyone to get their bids in as soon as possible to benefit two very worthy causes.”

Superintendent Steve Wallace, of Merton Police said: “We have already had an encouraging reaction to the social media auction and we are hoping for even more bids to raise as much money as possible for the mayor’s charities before Christmas.”

The deadline for bids is Friday 16 December. The winner should be available at 11am on Wednesday 21 December to collect the panda and have a photograph taken. To make a bid, visit www.facebook.com/MertonPolice